The Minister for Trade and Industry Alan Kojo Kyeremanteng has commissioned a Rice Processing Factory and Technology Center (TSC) in Savelugu in the Northern Region.
In attendance was the Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Saani Alhassan Shaibu who said the Savelugu Rice Processing Factory and Technology Solution Center (TSC) will be a catalyst to bring development to the area and the region at large.
He said no progress and development can be made in the region without due attention to the agriculture sector because majority of people in the area depend on it for survival.
“I want to state that the commissioning of these two great projects will be a catalyst to bring development to the people of the northern region, and for that matter the Savelugu municipality. Majority of our people find their livelihood directly or indirectly in agriculture and therefore no progress and development can be made in this region without due attention to this sector.” He added
The Minister said the factory will help deal with the issue of harvesting and processing, the major concern of rice farmers in the region.
He said it will also help curb the challenges of bush fires, pest infestation and theft.
“The planting for food and jobs program has helped increase crop yields in the region. One of the major concern arising from this increased productivity has to do with harvesting and processing, rice industries especially have suffered a lot in delayed harvesting and processing as a result of bush fires, theft and pest control, therefore this rice factory will contribute significantly in dealing with these challenges. He said
Alhaji Saani Alhassan Shaibu made these known at the commissioning of the about Gh¢ 7.375 million Savelugu rice factory and technology solution center.
The Savelugu Rice Processing factory has a state of the art rice processing equipment with the capacity to produce 1.5 and 2.8 tonnes of processed rice per hour.
The construction of the factory commenced in January 2020 and was completed and handed over on 15th July 2021.
The processing plant installed at the factory include a modern parboiling, milling and packaging plants.
It has a standby generator and a mechanized borehole to supply the factory with water among others.
Alhaji Saani Alhassan Shaibu appealed to farmers to patronize the facilities as this will be a main stay of agricultural investment in the region.
He also appealed to people chosen to run the facilities to exercise due diligence and commitment to duty.
“ We call on farmers to patronize this facility as this could be the main stay of agric investments in the region .” The Minister opined
The Minister for Trade and Industry Alan Kojo Kyeremanteng said about 730 farmers from the Savelugu Municipal Union of Rice Farmers Association own 70 percent share in the factory, making it a perfect example of community ownership of business.
He said the ministry of trade and industry, the traditional council and the District Assembly own 10 percent share each.
“ This is a perfect example of community ownership of business , 70 percent of shares in the factory is owned by about 730 farmers, 10 is owned by the traditional authority and 10 is owned by government.” He said
The Trades minister said the factory will create jobs for the people of the area.
The Executive Director of the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), Kwasi Attah Antwi said the 1D1F Common User Facility (CUF) is a farmer-owned agro-industrial processing facility established with seed funding from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) under the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP).
He said the model seeks to enhance the ability of farmers and other agricultural value chain actors, with little or no financial capacity to establish their own Common User processing facilities to process their farm products.
Kwasi Attah Antwi said five of the CUF has been established across the country including that of Savelugu.
The Director said the Savelugu rice factory is the only facility with a technology solution center.
“The Savelugu Technology Solution Centre (TSC) is one of 5 new facilities being established by the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), under the direction of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The other four are located at Kumawu, in the Ashanti Region, Hohoe in the Volta Region, Elmina in the Central Region and Dormaa Ahenkro in the Bono Region.” he added
Story By: Alhassan Imoro
